Rigitrac (a subsidiary of ‘Sepp Knusel’) recently launched a new electric tractor – namely the SKE 50 (pictured above).
Rated power output is 50kW (68hp). The tractor runs off an 80kWh lithium-ion battery. It can apparently run for up to five hours on a single charge (depending on the nature of the work it’s doing).
According to Czech outlet Agroportal24h, the tractor has five electric motors. Each PTO (front and rear) and axle has its own dedicated motor. The fifth motor powers the hydraulic system.
This year, the tractor will reportedly undergo evaluation. Likely applications will include tasks on small farms and in urban environments.
The front axle is home to 425/55 R17 tyres; the rear is fitted with 440/65 R24 tyres. The tractor (unladen) weighs just 2.8t.
Who or what is Rigitrac?
This Swiss engineering entity was founded by Sepp Knusel, who grew up on a farm with his seven siblings.
After completing a four-year apprenticeship as an agricultural machinery mechanic, he founded his own agricultural machinery company – trading as ‘Sepp Knusel’ at just 20 years of age.
For many years, apparently, he nurtured the ambition to build his own tractor. He developed a prototype, which was unveiled to the public in 2003. The ‘Rigitrac‘ brand-name was born.
More specifically, Rigitrac Traktorenbau AG was established as a subsidiary of ‘Sepp Knusel’.
By 2008, production of the (Sisu-powered) 90hp Rigitrac SKH 90 had started. This model won numerous awards.
Fast forward then to 2017, when the company launched the 160hp Rigitrac SKH 150 (pictured below) – first shown publicly in October of that year.
The companies (Rigitrac and ‘Sepp Knusel’) now employ 40 people – at four locations in Switzerland.
Sepp (left) and Marlis (right) Knusel, pictured with their four daughters who all work at ‘Sepp Knusel’ and Rigitrac